CN209618487U - A kind of tape winding mechanism of tape measure assembling - Google Patents

A kind of tape winding mechanism of tape measure assembling Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CN209618487U
CN209618487U CN201822252016.8U CN201822252016U CN209618487U CN 209618487 U CN209618487 U CN 209618487U CN 201822252016 U CN201822252016 U CN 201822252016U CN 209618487 U CN209618487 U CN 209618487U
Authority
CN
China
Prior art keywords
tape
winding
rotary shaft
rack
winding head
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
CN201822252016.8U
Other languages
Chinese (zh)
Inventor
文涛
张托盈
杨保林
宋瑶琳
叶休
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Huizhou Yinghe Industrial Technology Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Huizhou Yinghe Industrial Technology Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Huizhou Yinghe Industrial Technology Co Ltd filed Critical Huizhou Yinghe Industrial Technology Co Ltd
Priority to CN201822252016.8U priority Critical patent/CN209618487U/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CN209618487U publication Critical patent/CN209618487U/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Landscapes

  • Tape Measures (AREA)

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of tape winding mechanisms of tape measure assembling.The winding mechanism includes rack (1), winding head (2) and rotary shaft (3);The winding head (2) is rotatably arranged on the rack (1) outside;There is the setter plate (21) for fixing foot wheel on the winding head (2);Rotary shaft (3) setting is in the rack (1), and one end of the rotary shaft (3) is scalable through the rack (1) and winding head (2) and the cavity inside for extending out to foot wheel;The scalable bayonet (31) having on the end of the rack (1) and one end of winding head (2) for fixing Tape spring of the rotary shaft (3);The rotary shaft (3) can be with the winding head (2) synchronous rotary.The winding mechanism, which can be realized, carries out automation winding to the tape of tape measure assembling process, high to different size tape compatibility, improves the production efficiency of tape measure assembling.

Description

A kind of tape winding mechanism of tape measure assembling
Technical field
The utility model relates to tape measure package technique fields, and in particular to a kind of tape winding mechanism of tape measure assembling.
Background technique
Tape measure is very widely used in real life as measuring tool, and since it can wind, tool There is the advantages of including using and carrying convenient storage, operation wide adaptability.
Due to being widely used for tape measure, demand is larger, needs by producing meet demand in enormous quantities.Existing tape measure group Installing is standby cannot to fully achieve full-automatic production, be not able to satisfy production requirement.Wherein, in tape measure assembling process, tape Winding has not been able to fully achieve high-efficient automatic winding, cannot effectively fix, hold for connecting the spring of tape in winding process It is easy to fall off to drop out;And winding head part replacement components are complicated, and it is not high to the compatibility of the tape measure size produced in real time. Meanwhile winding process does not have matched winding progress monitoring and automation to hold out against locking system.
Utility model content
The purpose of this utility model is that providing a kind of tape measure at least one insufficient or defect in the prior art The tape winding mechanism of assembling.The winding mechanism, which can be realized, carries out automation winding to the tape of tape measure assembling process, certainly Tape spring can be carried out preventing Tape spring from falling off and dropping out effectively in the cavity of foot wheel in dynamic winding process; Moreover, the winding head of the winding mechanism, which sets up separately, is equipped with setter plate, make the limit that boss and through-hole are used between foot wheel and setter plate Position cooperation, various sizes of band tape winding when again can it is readily replaceable difference foot wheels, improve winding mechanism to difference The compatibility of size band tape;Meanwhile it being provided with inductor on the outside of winding head part, the winding progress of tape is supervised in real time Control, and being provided with the automatic component that holds out against can prevent the tape unwinding of winding completion from opening, and further increase the production effect of tape measure assembling Rate.
The purpose of this utility model is achieved through the following technical solutions.
A kind of tape winding mechanism of tape measure assembling, including rack, winding head and rotary shaft;The winding head is rotatable It is arranged outside the rack;There is the setter plate for fixing foot wheel on the winding head;
The rotary shaft is arranged in the rack, and one end of the rotary shaft is scalable through the rack and winding Head and the cavity inside for extending out to foot wheel;On the end of scalable one end for running through the rack and winding head of the rotary shaft With the bayonet for fixing Tape spring;The rotary shaft can be with the winding head synchronous rotary.
Preferably, the rotation outer shaft sleeve is equipped with brass axis, and the brass axis can carry out power transmitting to the rotary shaft, The rotary shaft can be with the brass axis synchronous rotary, and the brass axis is fixedly connected with the setter plate, to realize institute Stating rotary shaft can be with the winding head synchronous rotary.
Preferably, the setter plate is arranged in the rack by the rotatable connection of hollow rotating platform;Wherein, institute Setter plate is stated to be fixedly connected with the hollow rotating platform, and the rotatable connection of the hollow rotating platform is arranged in the machine On frame.
Preferably, there is boss in the setter plate, and the boss in the setter plate is corresponding with the through-hole of foot wheel bottom; Cooperation is limited by the through-hole of boss and foot wheel bottom in the setter plate, makes foot wheel can be with the setter plate synchronous rotary Positioning is fixedly mounted on the winding head.
Preferably, the bayonet is the prong opened up on one end end of the rotary shaft.
Preferably, the winding head and the rotary shaft are by the first power-driven mechanism driving synchronous rotary;The rotation Axis runs through the rack by the driving of the second power-driven mechanism is flexible.
Preferably, it is provided on the outside of the winding head and holds out against component, the tape for completing to winding is held out against;Its In, the component that holds out against includes encapsulated bearing and bearing driving mechanism, and the encapsulated bearing, which is used to contact, holds out against what winding was completed Tape volume, the tape volume that the bearing driving mechanism is used to that encapsulated bearing to be driven to complete close to winding.
Preferably, it is additionally provided with inductor on the outside of the winding head, for monitoring more than winding progress and the tail portion of tape Amount.
Compared with prior art, the utility model is had the following advantages and beneficial effects:
The winding mechanism of the utility model, which can be realized, carries out automation winding to the tape of tape measure assembling process, automatic Tape spring can be carried out effectively in the cavity of foot wheel in winding process, prevent Tape spring from falling off and drop out;
In the winding mechanism of the utility model, winding head, which sets up separately, is equipped with setter plate, makes to use between foot wheel and setter plate The limit of boss and through-hole cooperates, and so that foot wheel is not easily disconnected from winding process and setter plate coaxial rotating, in different sizes Band tape winding when again can it is readily replaceable difference reels, improve winding mechanism to the compatibility of different size tape Property, expand band tape and winds working range;
In the winding mechanism of the utility model, it is provided with inductor on the outside of winding head part and holds out against component, passes through sense The winding progress and tail portion surplus of device monitoring feedback tape are answered, then component is held out against by control, the tape volume for completing winding is carried out It holds out against, the tape unwinding for preventing winding from completing is opened, and the production efficiency of tape measure assembling is further increased.
Detailed description of the invention
Fig. 1 is the overall structure diagram of the tape winding mechanism of the tape measure assembling of the utility model in specific embodiment;
Fig. 2 is that the structure of the fixing axle in the tape winding mechanism of the tape measure assembling of the utility model in specific embodiment is shown It is intended to;
Fig. 3 is the structure for the foot wheel installed in the tape winding mechanism of the tape measure assembling of the utility model in specific embodiment Schematic diagram;
Fig. 4 is that the structure of the setter plate in the tape winding mechanism of the tape measure assembling of the utility model in specific embodiment is shown It is intended to;
Attached drawing mark: 1- rack, 100- bottom plate, the high axis such as 101-, 102- mounting plate, 2- winding head, 21- setter plate, 211- boss, 22- hollow rotating platform, 22- brass axis, 3- rotary shaft, 31- bayonet, the first power-driven mechanism of 4-, 5- second Power-driven mechanism, the encapsulated component of 6-, the encapsulated bearing of 61-, the encapsulated bearing driving mechanism of 62-, 63- stop collar, 7- inductor, 8- Solenoid valve block, 9- throttle valve, 10- bearer ring, 12- foot wheel, 121- lid edge opening, 122- claw.
Specific embodiment
The technical solution of the utility model is described in further detail below in conjunction with specific embodiments and drawings, but this The protection scope and embodiment of utility model are without being limited thereto.
Embodiment 1
The present embodiment a kind of tape measure assembling tape winding mechanism, it is shown in Figure 1, including rack 1, winding head 2 and Rotary shaft 3.Wherein, rack 1 is made of bottom plate 100, contour axis 101 and mounting plate 102, and specifically, mounting plate 102 passes through Contour axis 101 is mounted on bottom plate 100, bottom of the bottom plate 100 as rack 1, top of the mounting plate 102 as rack 1.
The winding head 2 is rotatably arranged on the outer top of the rack 1, is specifically located at mounting plate in the present embodiment 102 upper surface;There is the setter plate 21 for fixing foot wheel 12 on the winding head 2.
It is shown in Figure 1 in the present embodiment, specifically, the rotary shaft 3 is arranged in the rack 1, it is specifically located at The bottom of mounting plate 102, and one end of the rotary shaft 3 scalable through the rack 1 and the winding head 2 and extend out to ruler The cavity inside of wheel 12.It is shown in Figure 2, have on the end of scalable one end through the rack 1 of the rotary shaft 3 For fixing the bayonet 31 of Tape spring, in the present embodiment, the bayonet 31 is to open up on one end end of the rotary shaft 3 Prong.Moreover, rotary shaft 3 can be with 2 synchronous rotary of winding head.
Shown in Figure 3 in the present embodiment, the upper surface of setter plate 21 is arranged in cover shape and the lid that falls for the foot wheel 12, During winding tape, Tape spring, which can accommodate, to be placed in the cover shape cavity of foot wheel 12.And it is further, it is shown in Figure 3, The cover shape edge of the foot wheel 12 has the lid edge opening 121 of connection lid mouth, for the end connecting with tape for Tape spring End is stretched out;The edge Gai Kou of the foot wheel 12 has the claw 122 to base indent, and claw 122 can will be located at the lid of foot wheel 12 The intracorporal Tape spring of shape chamber further limits, and prevents Tape spring from dropping out.And one end of the rotary shaft 3 is scalable through institute It states rack 1 and extend out to intracavitary in the cover shape of the foot wheel 12, the rotary shaft 3 can be with 12 synchronous rotary of foot wheel.
When being wound tape, Tape spring is placed in the cavity of foot wheel 12, one with bayonet 31 of rotary shaft 3 End carries out clamping fixed through the cavity for extending out to foot wheel 12 and to Tape spring, and the end of Tape spring passes through in foot wheel 12 Cavities open to extend out to foot wheel 12 outer and connect with tape.In this way, the setter plate 21 and rotary shaft 3 on winding head 2 carry out Tape spring synchronous rotary is driven when synchronous rotary, so that the end of Tape spring will drive tape synchronous rotary and wound on ruler The outer of wheel 12 is placed.
Specifically, shown in Figure 1, the winding head 2 is revolved with rotary shaft 3 by the first driving of power-driven mechanism 4 is synchronous Turn;In the present embodiment, the first power-driven mechanism 4 is motor, and the bottom of mounting plate 102 is arranged in the first power-driven mechanism 4 Portion.
Specifically, shown in Figure 1, the rotary shaft 3 runs through mounting plate by the driving of the second power-driven mechanism 5 is flexible 102.And the second power-driven mechanism 5 is three axis cylinders, by 8 control switch of solenoid valve block, and passes through the control output of throttle valve 9 Torque and then the lifting speed for controlling rotary shaft 3.
Moreover, the bottom of mounting plate 102 is arranged in the second power-driven mechanism 5 in the present embodiment, output end stretches It is reversely identical as the telescopic direction of rotary shaft 3.The output end of second power-driven mechanism 5 is connected by link block 11 and rotary shaft 3 It connects, when work, the output end of the second power mechanism 5 can drive rotary shaft 3 through rack 1 when retracting, and pass through one end of rotary shaft 3 The cavity inside that the rack 1 extend out to winding head 2 is worn, and rotary shaft 3 can be driven when the stretching of the output end of the second power mechanism 5 It is retracted in rack 1.Also, rotary shaft 3 is attached with link block 11 by bearer ring 10, and rotary shaft 3 is freely rotatable Without being limited by link block 11.
Specifically, shown in Figure 1, the foot wheel 12 is rotatably arranged on the upper of mounting plate 102 by setter plate 21 Surface.Wherein, the setter plate 21 is rotatably arranged on the upper surface of mounting plate 102, and the connection of foot wheel 12 is arranged in institute It states in setter plate 21, and can be with 21 coaxial rotating of setter plate.And it is arranged with brass axis 22 outside the rotary shaft 3, wherein yellow The inside of copper axis 22 has a square hole, and the shape of rotary shaft 3 be designed as it is adaptable rectangular, to make brass axis 22 can be to rotation Shaft 3 carries out power transmitting, makes the rotary shaft 3 can be with 22 synchronous rotary of brass axis.Further, brass axis 22 and peace It sets 21 selected section of plate to be fixedly connected, to realize that the rotary shaft 3 can be with 12 synchronous rotary of foot wheel.
It is arranged brass axis 22 outside rotary shaft 3 and carries out power transmission, the material of brass axis 22 is brass, is run through in rotary shaft 3 Fabulous lubricating action can be played in the lifting process of winding head 2, be not necessarily to other oiling.
Further, the setter plate 21 is rotatably arranged on the upper table of mounting plate 102 by hollow rotating platform 23 Face, wherein the setter plate 21 is fixedly connected with 23 selected section of hollow rotating platform, and the hollow rotating platform 23 Rotatable connection is arranged in the rack 1.Moreover, specifically, hollow rotating platform 23 and the first power-driven mechanism 4 Output end transmission connection, hollow rotating platform 23 are fixedly connected with setter plate 21 and 22 selected section of brass axis, dynamic by first Power drive mechanism 4 drives hollow rotating platform 23 to rotate, so that the synchronous rotary of setter plate 21, foot wheel 12 and rotary shaft 3 is driven, And specially coaxial synchronous rotates.
It is shown in Figure 4, in the present embodiment, there is boss 211 in the setter plate 21, and the bottom of the foot wheel 12 has There is through-hole corresponding with the boss in the setter plate 21, by boss 211 in the setter plate 21 and the foot wheel 12 Through-hole limit cooperation, make the foot wheel 12 that can be mounted on the placement with the stationary positioned of 21 coaxial rotating of setter plate On plate 21.Moreover, the limit cooperation of boss and through-hole can make foot wheel 12 and setter plate 21 in direction of rotation secure fit, make foot wheel 12 will not be there is a phenomenon where being detached from setter plate 21 in the winding course of work, while the replacement of foot wheel 12 can be made to become easy, In Various sizes of band tape is convenient for changing various sizes of reel when winding, and improves winding mechanism to different size tape measures The compatibility of tape expands band tape and winds range.
Further, the outside of the winding head 2, which is provided with, holds out against component 6, and the tape for completing to winding, which is rolled up, to be carried out It holds out against.Wherein, the component 6 that holds out against includes encapsulated bearing 61 and bearing driving mechanism 62, and the encapsulated bearing 61 is for contacting The tape volume that winding is completed is held out against, and the encapsulated of encapsulated bearing 61 has buffer function, will not damage product.The bearing driving The tape volume that mechanism 62 is used to that encapsulated bearing 61 to be driven to complete close to winding.After tape completes winding, pass through bearing driving machine Structure 62 drives encapsulated bearing 61 close to tape volume is held out against, and prevents the tape unwinding for completing to wind from opening.
Also, in the present embodiment, bearing driving mechanism 62 is thin cylinder, and the output end end extension elongation of thin cylinder is logical The adjusting for crossing 63 position of stop collar is controlled, and so that encapsulated bearing 61 is compatible with and is held out against various sizes of tape measure, and is slim Cylinder passes through 8 control switch of solenoid valve block.
Further, the outside of the winding head 2 is additionally provided with inductor 7.In the present embodiment, inductor 7 especially by Metal plate is mounted on mounting plate 102, wherein mounting hole of the inductor 7 on metal plate contains notch, makes the installation site of inductor 7 Facilitate adjusting.Inductor 7 is used to monitor the winding progress and tail portion surplus of tape, and dynamic according to monitoring result feedback control first The output torque of power drive mechanism 4, the second power-driven mechanism 5 and bearing driving mechanism 62, to improve the winding of tape certainly Dynamicization control efficiency.
Using the present embodiment winding mechanism winding when, Tape spring is placed on first it is intracavitary in the cover shape of foot wheel 12, The end of Tape spring is extend out to outside foot wheel 12 by lid edge opening 121;Then, solenoid valve block 8 controls the first power-driven machine The output end of structure 4 bounces back, so that the one end for driving rotary shaft 3 to have bayonet 31 is extend out in foot wheel 12, and by Tape spring card Tightly.At this point, the end of Tape spring is fastened and connected with tape.Start the second power-driven mechanism 5 and drives hollow rotating platform 23 rotations make tape wound on the periphery of foot wheel 12 so that foot wheel 12 be made to rotate.After the completion of winding, solenoid valve block 8 controls bearing The output end of driving mechanism 62 stretches out, and the tape volume for pushing encapsulated bearing 61 to complete close to winding makes tape volume will not be because of elastic force It unclamps.The output end that solenoid valve block 8 controls the first power-driven mechanism 4 again stretches out, and separates rotary shaft 3 with Tape spring, and Foot wheel 12 is taken out together with tape measure afterwards, completes the winding of tape.
Above embodiments are only the preferred embodiment of the utility model, be only that the technical solution of the utility model make into The detailed description of one step, but the protection scope of the utility model and embodiment are without being limited thereto, it is any without departing from the utility model Change, combination, deletion, replacement or modification for being made under Spirit Essence and principle etc. are included in the protection model of the utility model In enclosing.

Claims (8)

1. a kind of tape winding mechanism of tape measure assembling, which is characterized in that including rack (1), winding head (2) and rotary shaft (3); The winding head (2) is rotatably arranged on the rack (1) outside;There is the peace for fixing foot wheel on the winding head (2) Set plate (21);
Rotary shaft (3) setting is in the rack (1), and one end of the rotary shaft (3) is scalable through the rack (1) and winding head (2) and the cavity inside for extending out to foot wheel;The scalable of the rotary shaft (3) runs through the rack (1) and rolls up There is the bayonet (31) for fixing Tape spring on the end of one end of head (2);The rotary shaft (3) can be with the winding Head (2) synchronous rotary.
2. a kind of tape winding mechanism of tape measure assembling according to claim 1, which is characterized in that the rotary shaft (3) It is arranged with brass axis (22) outside, the brass axis (22) can carry out power transmitting, the rotary shaft (3) to the rotary shaft (3) Can be with brass axis (22) synchronous rotary, and the brass axis (22) is fixedly connected with the setter plate (21), to realize The rotary shaft (3) can be with the winding head (2) synchronous rotary.
3. a kind of tape winding mechanism of tape measure assembling according to claim 2, which is characterized in that the setter plate (21) It is arranged on the rack (1) by the rotatable connection of hollow rotating platform (23);Wherein, the setter plate (21) with it is described Hollow rotating platform (23) is fixedly connected, and the rotatable connection of the hollow rotating platform (23) is arranged in the rack (1) On.
4. the tape winding mechanism of described in any item a kind of tape measure assemblings according to claim 1 ~ 3, which is characterized in that the peace Setting has boss on plate (21), and the boss in the setter plate (21) is corresponding with the through-hole of foot wheel bottom;Pass through the placement The through-hole of boss and foot wheel bottom on plate (21) limits cooperation, makes foot wheel can be with the positioning of the setter plate (21) synchronous rotary It is fixedly mounted on the winding head (2).
5. a kind of tape winding mechanism of tape measure assembling according to claim 1, which is characterized in that the bayonet (31) is The prong opened up on one end end of the rotary shaft (3).
6. a kind of tape winding mechanism of tape measure assembling according to claim 1, which is characterized in that the winding head (2) And the rotary shaft (3) drives synchronous rotary by the first power-driven mechanism (4);The rotary shaft (3) is by the second power drive Mechanism (5) driving is flexible to run through the rack (1).
7. a kind of tape winding mechanism of tape measure assembling according to claim 1, which is characterized in that the winding head (2) Outside be provided with and hold out against component (6), the tape for completing to winding is held out against;Wherein, the component (6) that holds out against includes Encapsulated bearing (61) and bearing driving mechanism (62), the encapsulated bearing (61), which is used to contact, holds out against the tape volume that winding is completed, The tape volume that the bearing driving mechanism (62) is used to that encapsulated bearing (61) to be driven to complete close to winding.
8. a kind of tape winding mechanism of tape measure assembling according to claim 1, which is characterized in that the winding head (2) Outside be additionally provided with inductor (7), for monitoring the winding progress and tail portion surplus of tape.
CN201822252016.8U 2018-12-29 2018-12-29 A kind of tape winding mechanism of tape measure assembling Active CN209618487U (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN201822252016.8U CN209618487U (en) 2018-12-29 2018-12-29 A kind of tape winding mechanism of tape measure assembling

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN201822252016.8U CN209618487U (en) 2018-12-29 2018-12-29 A kind of tape winding mechanism of tape measure assembling

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CN209618487U true CN209618487U (en) 2019-11-12

Family

ID=68448084

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CN201822252016.8U Active CN209618487U (en) 2018-12-29 2018-12-29 A kind of tape winding mechanism of tape measure assembling

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CN (1) CN209618487U (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN112408037A (en) * 2020-12-04 2021-02-26 杜镇辉 Tape winding equipment
CN113353676A (en) * 2021-05-31 2021-09-07 北航歌尔(潍坊)智能机器人有限公司 Tape winding tool and assembling equipment

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN112408037A (en) * 2020-12-04 2021-02-26 杜镇辉 Tape winding equipment
CN112408037B (en) * 2020-12-04 2023-10-24 杜镇辉 Tape winding equipment
CN113353676A (en) * 2021-05-31 2021-09-07 北航歌尔(潍坊)智能机器人有限公司 Tape winding tool and assembling equipment
CN113353676B (en) * 2021-05-31 2022-09-20 北航歌尔(潍坊)智能机器人有限公司 Tape winding tool and assembling equipment

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN209618487U (en) A kind of tape winding mechanism of tape measure assembling
CN209259367U (en) A kind of rail traffic cabling wrap-up
CN206232219U (en) Automatic backwinding machine
CN2858597Y (en) Coil winding machine
CN203933277U (en) Rotor winding machine
CN208531905U (en) Power engineering supply reel
CN211444131U (en) Finished product clamping device for automatic assembling machine
CN103591232B (en) A kind of belt tensioning device of belt transmission disk centrifuge
CN210214378U (en) Winding device for electrical engineering
CN203942417U (en) Shaping slide block mechanism on a kind of waveform machine for forming winding
CN219410787U (en) Gate opening and closing equipment
CN113602915A (en) Intelligent high-efficiency full-automatic winding machine
CN219696245U (en) Tooth ring structure of automatic coil winding machine
CN206288799U (en) The machine of falling yarn
CN112809614A (en) Target material dismounting device
CN208682358U (en) A kind of multi-functional marking device of stator manufacture
CN221739365U (en) Automatic triggering type stopping device for fire-fighting winding and winding device
CN211052194U (en) Auxiliary wire pushing device for winding drum of trunk wire unloading machine
CN210757777U (en) Artificial intelligence robot paw hand
CN220744976U (en) Spool convenient for winding steel wire
CN216583481U (en) Be used for prosthetic winding device of electric wire netting line loss
CN214989291U (en) Automatic coiling device of wire rod
CN207629975U (en) The motor disassembling device of glass grinder
CN220182532U (en) Frock is used in hoist and mount of power battery
CN221539745U (en) Electrician storage bag

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
GR01 Patent grant
GR01 Patent grant